Bicycle Mechanics - My headset jiggles!

I have changed stems a few times and lately I can't get the headset to seat right(?). When I test it yy slamming the front break while riding, I feel some movement.

My mike is 6 months old. Did I fry the headset or can this wiggling be fixed ? Thanks :( :)

Sounds like you tigthened the stem screws in the wrong order. You should tighten the top screw first to get the fork tight against the headset, then tighten the side screws to lock it all down.

Also, make sure there's enough of a gap between the topcap and the top of the steerer to allow you to get proper compression preload. If you've changed stems recently, you may now be running with a stem that has a lower stack height than previous so you might not have the gap clearance you once did. You may need to retrim your steerer.

BTW, I'm assuming we're talking about a threadless setup here. If that's not the case then please correct me.

Ya, if it is threadless so what tinrobot and khuon said. You can tighten the top screw as much as you want, but if you don't have a gap between the top of the steertube and the top of the stem, it will do you no good. If you have the gap, tighten the top screw, then the side screws, and I usually back the top screw off just a tad after.

I usually back the top screw off just a tad after.

Yeah... once the preload is set and the stem secured with the sidebolts, you don't even need the topscrew or even the topcap. You can even remove them if you want but it's kind of unsightly staring down an open tube and I feel it's good to be able to add preload on the road if necessary. Be careful about loosening the topscrew too much if you're running an expander wedge for a carbon steerer. I had my topscrew come loose enough that it worked its way out of the wedge causing the wedge to fall down into my steerer. Luckily it was on my roadbike and the wedge stopped at the brake caliper bolt. Had it been on my MTB, it would have fallen all the way through. But then again, I don't have a carbon steerer on my MTB fork so I use a starnut there.

and is this a threadless or threaded stem?

sd